Prof. Jess Gerrit Snedeker

The Biomechanics of the Golf Swing

The golf swing can significantly contribute to lower spine degeneration and consequent lower spine pain due to the repetitive and intense forces it exerts on the lumbar spine. Lower back pain makes up for about a quarter of all golf injuries and affects players of all ages and with varying skill levels. Different styles of golf swings exist, but in general, they are characterized by extensive rotational movements and powerful downward movements that can place particularly high stress on the spine (primarily on the intervertebral disc and the facet joints). These complex loading patterns consist of a combination of compression, torsion, and shearing and are placed on the spine at a high frequency (professional golfers may perform hundreds of swings a day). Characteristic damage to the spine caused by repeated minor traumatic injuries might be the result. In addition to targeted strengthening of muscles around the lumbar spine, understanding and consequently potentially modifying the swing biomechanics may help mitigate the risk of spine degeneration in golfers. The aim of this project is to determine the player-specific loading of the lumbar spine through a detailed biomechanical analysis of the player’s swing. Similar analyses have been successfully conducted for baseball but have yet to be applied in golf. Show detailsaddremove